RPAGF Chapter 534 Strike the snake at its seven-inch mark, using skillful force
Chapter 534 Strike the snake at its seven-inch mark, using skillful force
"Brother! This old hag coughed right in front of me, it's disgusting! Sister Cuihuan said she's going to lock her up and starve her, to see if she'll dare to be so unruly again!"
“Miss is right, lest the illness be passed on to you.” Cuihuan quickly echoed, her words full of flattery.
Lu Ge'er's gaze passed over them and landed on the weak figure in the woodshed.
Because of her illness, Granny Chen's hands and feet were already somewhat inconvenient, so she was transferred to do some light cleaning and sweeping work.
Now, his six-year-old sister, at the urging of the maid, is trying to lock a sick old man in a cold, dark woodshed and not give him any food.
This is not simply spoiling someone, nor is it childish misbehavior.
This is inhuman! Sister Lan is being dragged step by step into an abyss!
He could no longer back down, and he could no longer rely on reasoning.
Despite his raging anger, Brother Lü'er's face remained frighteningly calm.
He grabbed Lan Jie'er's wrist with a quick and precise movement.
Lan Jie'er was stunned; she had never seen her brother like this before.
"What are you doing! Let me go!" After a brief moment of shock, Lan Jie'er screamed.
Without saying a word, Lu Ge'er simply pulled her outside, his voice unusually solemn: "Lan'er, come with your brother."
"I won't go! Where are you taking me?" Lan'er struggled desperately, crying and screaming, "You're hurting me! Brother is a bad person! Let me go!"
Cuihuan was shocked to see this and rushed forward to stop him, grabbing Lu Ge'er's arm.
"Young Master! You mustn't do this! What are you doing? The Old Madam will be furious if she finds out!"
"Get out of here!" Brother Lu's eyes were like knives as he coldly uttered the two words.
Cuihuan was startled by the coldness in his eyes and subconsciously let go of his hand.
In just a moment, Brother Lü had already pulled Sister Lan out of the courtyard.
"Miss! Miss!" Cuihuan realized what was happening and screamed as she chased after her.
The scene was in chaos.
Lan Jie'er's wailing, Cui Huan's shouts...
The servants along the way stopped and stared in astonishment at the scene.
The usually composed and calm young master in their eyes was now ashen-faced, desperately pulling his crying younger sister along.
Behind him followed a maid who had completely lost her mind.
The main courtyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
When Brother Lü appeared at the main courtyard gate with a tearful Lan Jie'er in tow, the old woman and maid guarding the gate were all stunned.
They looked at Lan Jie'er, whose clothes were disheveled and who was crying uncontrollably, and then at Lu Ge'er, whose face was ashen.
For a moment, the entire main courtyard entrance was completely silent.
Chu Ruohan was looking at the account book inside the house. Before she could ask any questions, Lu Ge'er had already dragged Lan Jie'er, who was still struggling, across the threshold.
Cuihuan followed closely behind, panting as she entered.
"Madam!" Cuihuan spoke first.
However, Lu Ge'er was faster than her.
Without even glancing at Cuihuan, he forcefully restrained the struggling and crying Lan Jie'er, and then knelt down on the cold ground with a "thump".
This stopped Lan Jie'er's crying abruptly, and even Cui Huan was so shocked that she shut her mouth.
"Aunt!" Lu Ge'er raised his head, his usually calm eyes now bloodshot. "Lu Ge'er is incompetent! Please save Lan Jie'er and teach her to distinguish right from wrong!"
This was the third time he had performed this grand gesture towards Chu Ruohan.
Each time, it concerned the survival of him and his sister. This demonstrates the seriousness with which he took it.
Chu Ruohan put down the porcelain bowl in her hand and slowly swept her gaze across the table.
She saw the heartache in Lu Ge'er's eyes, and the defiant arrogance on Lan Jie'er's face even after she was frightened.
Finally, her gaze fell on Cuihuan.
With just one glance, Chu Ruohan had already formed a seven or eight-tenths of a plan in her mind.
"Get up and talk."
Chu Ruohan winked at Yu Ling beside her, "Yu Ling, take Lan Jie'er away first, wash her face and change her clothes."
"I won't go! I don't want to go with you!" Lan Jie'er realized what was happening and immediately screamed again, grabbing Lu Ge'er's sleeve tightly.
Yu Ling stepped forward, curtsied, and said in a gentle yet firm voice, "Miss, please come with me."
Without saying a word, she deftly pried Lan Jie'er's hand off Lu Ge'er's body.
Lan Jie'er wanted to make a fuss again, but she met Chu Ruohan's calm and unwavering gaze. There was no severity in her eyes, but it made her feel a sudden pang of fear.
The cries that followed were forced back down, and she could only sob as Yuling led her away.
Seeing this, Cuihuan wanted to follow, but Chu Ruohan glanced at her indifferently and said, "You, just kneel there."
Cuihuan stiffened, not daring to say anything more, and could only kneel reluctantly by the door.
A temporary silence was restored inside the hall.
“Speak,” Chu Ruohan said, looking at Lu Ge’er, “What exactly happened?”
Despite his surging emotions, Brother Lu recounted everything that had happened recently in detail.
From the sudden change in Madam Gu's attitude after the autumn hunt, to how Cuihuan outwardly complied but inwardly defied her and subtly instigated her...
Then there's how Lan Jie'er went from being a somewhat spoiled child to the way she is now, slapping servants and wanting to lock a sick old servant in the woodshed without giving him food.
His voice trembled, and by the end, his eyes were completely red: "...Aunt, they don't love Lan'er, they want to spoil her!"
"I only have one younger sister..."
Chu Ruohan listened quietly, her originally gentle face gradually turning frosty.
How vicious are these clandestine secrets in the inner quarters!
If she hadn't lived an extra life and seen through the wickedness of human nature, she probably would have just dismissed it as an elder's doting on a younger generation and a brother's dereliction of duty in disciplining him.
Madam Gu is quite the schemer; she's really got a good plan.
She looked at the boy who was almost driven to the brink of despair and felt a pang of pity.
"Brother Lu, don't worry. From now on, Sister Lan will stay with me and I will personally take care of her."
She paused, then said, "As for your third uncle, have your uncle talk to him."
Upon hearing this, Brother Lü'er's tense body suddenly relaxed.
"Thank you so much, Aunt! I am deeply grateful!"
He knew that as long as Chu Ruohan was willing to take action, the situation would change.
His aunt, with her ruthless methods, would never allow Lan Jie'er to be ruined.
"Get up," Chu Ruohan said. "I understand your good intentions. You are a good brother."
Lu Ge'er stood up, stepped aside, and was filled with mixed feelings.
Chu Ruohan turned her gaze to Cuihuan kneeling at the door and said coldly, "Guards, drag this wicked servant who instigated her master to do evil away and slap her twenty times!"
Upon hearing this, Cuihuan was horrified and cried out, "Madam, spare me! I was only doing this for your own good, Miss! I am from the third branch of the Gu family, you can't..."
Before she could finish speaking, two strong old women stepped forward, one supporting her on one side while the other stuffed a wad of cloth into her mouth, and dragged her away swiftly and cleanly.
After finishing all this, Brother Lü bowed and took his leave.
Just as he reached the door, Chu Ruohan's voice came from behind him.
“Brother Lü”.
Lu Ge'er turned around: "Aunt, is there anything else you need?"
Chu Ruohan asked meaningfully, "Have you decided what to do with the two maids that Third Aunt sent to your courtyard?"
Lu Ge'er was taken aback, then lowered his eyes and said, "I originally wanted to find an excuse to get rid of them."
Chu Ruohan smiled gently, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "A head-on confrontation is more likely to alert the enemy. Sometimes, to strike the snake at its vital point, you need to use skillful force."
She looked up at the thoughtful Lu Ge'er, her voice soft yet clear:
"Some people will never know the pain until they take the blame themselves."